It takes bravery to build something new—not just a business, but a whole way of living.
At this week’s Community Breakfast, Ritu shared her journey from growing up in India to launching LifeX, a co-living company that now spans cities across Europe. What started with one apartment near City Hall has grown into a trusted housing brand—one designed for people who move, dream big, and want more from their home than just four walls.
From Product to People: The Spark Behind LifeX
At 15, Ritu made her first solo move—from India to the U.S. Years later, after studying finance and launching a startup in San Francisco, she found herself leading product teams and exploring what it meant to build meaningful experiences.
Then came Copenhagen. Meant to be a short stop, it quickly revealed a bigger problem: housing. Between short-term rentals and helping new hires navigate leases, one idea kept coming back—what if home could be simpler, shared, and social?
So, with her partner, they rented a big apartment to test it out.
A Brand Rooted in Belonging
LifeX began as an experiment—and a necessity. It turns out, plenty of people wanted community, flexibility, and a home without the hassle of furniture, contracts, and isolation.
The first challenge? Convincing a landlord to let them test their idea. The first surprise? How fast people said yes.
Eight years later, LifeX hosts over 1,500 members across multiple cities. And yes—Ritu lived in one of the first houses herself, fireworks from Tivoli and all.
Connection, Diversity, and a Bit of Chaos
Living with strangers sounds unpredictable—and that’s the point. “Sometimes it’s great to be surprised in life,” Ritu said. She shared stories of conversations with housemates from Saudi Arabia, Ukraine, and Norway, all with different backgrounds and beliefs—but brought together by curiosity and openness.
That, she believes, is where real connection happens.
Open Doors, also at Republikken
Now based at Republikken, Ritu and the LifeX team are excited to be part of the community. They’re hiring, mentoring, and happy to share what they’ve learned about housing, product-market fit, and building a business that puts people first.
As Ritu said, “Our mission is to help anyone feel at home—anywhere in the world.”
Sounds like something we could all use a little more of.